IRSC Partnership with Ballet Vero Beach and The Learning Alliance Offers Students the ‘College and Company’ Experience
IRSC Partnership with Ballet Vero Beach and The Learning Alliance Offers Students the ‘College and Company’ Experience
January 18, 2022 Suzanne Seldes
Ballet Vero Beach has unveiled a new fellowship program in conjunction with Indian River State College (IRSC) and The Learning Alliance. The unique program combines professional performance experience with the company, a quality higher education with Indian River State College, and training in arts integration, arts literacy, and the science of teaching with The Learning Alliance.
The Fellowship is completely free for accepted, qualified applicants with Florida residency. At the end of the two-year program, successful fellows emerge with an IRSC Associate Degree plus additional arts training within the Performing and Visual Arts Department of Indian River State College. Fellows gain résumé-building professional experience with Ballet Vero Beach and ancillary education from The Learning Alliance.
“With the cost of higher education skyrocketing, dwindling job opportunities for young dancers, and our desire to assist The Learning Alliance and the School District of Indian River County in their quest to attract, train, and retain top quality teaching talent in the district, we saw an opportunity to really make an impact,” states Ballet Vero Beach Artistic Director/CEO Adam Schnell. “The initiative has the potential to reach well beyond the enrolled fellows and change the face of the region.”
Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to thrive in both the college and company environments.
“We are thrilled at the prospect of welcoming Ballet Vero Beach fellows to IRSC this fall,” shares Dr. Heather Belmont, IRSC Provost and Chief Academic Officer. “These working artists will find myriad opportunities to pursue a solid academic foundation—wherever their curiosities and interests take them—while furthering their arts training with our Performing and Visual Arts faculty. We are proud to collaborate with Ballet Vero Beach and The Learning Alliance to support the artists who will become mentors to our next generation of performers.”
The first fellows will begin at IRSC during the Fall 2022 term. Those interested should review the requirements and apply at https://balletverobeach.org/fellowship.php.
About Ballet Vero Beach:
The mission of Ballet Vero Beach is to promote the art of dance as a universal language
in our community and beyond. The organization seeks to accomplish this goal with performances
by our professional company, the presentation of reputable national and international
dance artists, and through our educational and community outreach programs. As the
professional dance organization between Palm Beach and Orlando, the company is working
to become the most enmeshed and accessible arts organization in the area, is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for the arts in our community and
beyond, and to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all in all
of our activities and programs.
About Indian River State College:
A leader in education and innovation, Indian River State College transforms lives
by offering high-quality, affordable, and accessible education to the residents of
Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties through traditional and online
delivery. The College, ranked second-most-affordable in the nation, serves 26,000
students annually and offers more than 100 programs leading to Bachelor's degrees,
Associate degrees, technical certificates, and applied technology diplomas. It is
a recipient of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature
recognition of high achievement and performance among America's community colleges.
Learn more at www.irsc.edu.
About The Learning Alliance:
The Learning Alliance is committed to creating a better tomorrow by taking a stand
for our children today. By uniting an entire community to reimagine education, we
are working together to cultivate literate, creative and compassionate citizens who
will improve our world.
